Improvement in harvesters



' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. RAMSEY.

Mowen d Patented May 5, 1868.-

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. RAMSEY.

Mower.

Patented May 5, 1868. y

UNITED STATES PA'IENT OFFICE JO. RAMSEY, or MILFORD, TEXAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

Spcification forming part of Letters Patent No." 77,524, dated May 5,1868.

. To all whom tt may concern:

beinghad to the accompanyng drawings, mak= ing a part of thisspecification', in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of one side of theimproved machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the machine,taken in the vertical plane indicated by line 90 00 in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 isa top view of the machine, with portion broken away. Fig. 4 is a bottomview of the driving-wheel for vibratin g the lever which moves thesickle, showing the cam-head on said lever. Figs. 5 and 6 are views ofmyimproved finger-guard.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts in theseveral figures.

This invention relates to certain novel im-.

provements on that class of reaping and mowing machines in which theanimals which move the machine are placed behind the cutting ap paratusand the main frame.

The nature of my invention consists, first, in the manner herein shownof combining an endless wire, braco, or stay with two light disks orcircular pieces of wood or metal, which have pins set in theirperiphery, for the purpose of making a strong light pin-wheel foroperating the pitman-driver of a harvester, this construction beingcheaper than the solid serpentine cam-wheel or solid pin-wheel, andanswering all the purposes of the same, with less fricton, it also beingstronger and firmer than a wheel formed of two disks with camsurfacesopposite one another, and serving to give a more regular motion; second,my invention consists, further, in constructing the guards in the mannerherein shown and de scribed, so that that part of the slot in which thesickle moves shall only be about the same size as the thickness of thesickle, while that part of the slot which is forward of the front endsof the sickle-sections shall be greatly enlarged in the form of a circleor ellipse. Thus, while I secure a perfect surface for the edges of thesickle to cut upon, I also prevent elogging by providing a freeclearing-space in front of the ends of the sickle-sections.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand my invention, I willdescribe its con struction and operation.

n the accompanying drawings, A A represent the driving-wheels, which areboth applied loosely upon the axle B; and a repre sents a forked clutch,which passes through the hub of the wheel A, so as to engage with lugswhich are formed on a collar, a, that is keyed fast upon said axle. Thisclutch is used for engaging wheel A with its axle B when it is desiredto operate the sickle, and todisengage said wheel when it is not desiredto operate the sickle. l

C C represent two longitudinal beams, which project out in front andrear of the axle B, and are suspended beneath the same by means of thebearings b b, as shown. Beneath these beams G O, and secured to them bymeans of short posts, are two longitudinal beams, C C, which extendforward of the axlel3 and beams 0 a sufficie'nt distance to Support thegrainplatform D in front of the driving-wheels A A, and in front of theguardboard or fender D, which extends transversely across the lowerbeams in front of the drive-wheels.

The beams C O are connected together at their rear ends by means of atransver se bar, o, and at their front ends by means of a transversebar, d. The ends of the two bars c and d project out laterally, and havethe reel-supporting arms 'E E secured to them, as shown in Figs. 1, 2,and 3.

The front ends of the beams C C have the finger-beam e secured firmly tothem, which beam has secured to it the guard-fingers g g, upon which thesickle g reciprocates. One end of this sickle g has a bent arm securedto it, to which arm a pitman-rod is attached, which plays in a groove inthe finger-beam e, and is attached at its inner end to the forward endof a vibrating lover, Gr. This lever proceeds back, and has a cam-head,'h, applied to its rear end, which is acted upon by means of studs iupon the peripheries of two wheels, J J, on the main axle B. The studson wheels J are arranged at such distances apart and in such manner asto act alternately upon the taperiug sides of cam 7L as the wheels, withtheir axle, are revolved, and to give a rapid vibrating motion to thelever Gr. The two wheels J J are keyed upon the axle B at suitabledistances apart, and secured against lat eral strain by means of thediagonal rods 9-, which pass around the studs and also strengthen thesestuds.

The tongue K has hounds l l secured to its forward end, which hounds arepivoted to the rear posts 3 3, which connect the upper and lower beamsofthe main frame together at points 2 below the axle B. The tongue Kproceeds back beneath the bar c-a-suitable=dis tance, and is supportedupon aflanged guidewheel, L, the standard L of which passes freelythrough the tongue, and =has a handle N is in aposition where itean loegrasped by the person sitting upon seat M, whocah, by

rai-sing and lowering it,adjust the cutting apparat'us *higher or lower,as heymay require.

In Fi gs. 5 and 6 I have represented enla1ged stead of -guard-fingerheretofore used. It is ma;dof rod+of metal, bent in the form shown inFig. 5, so as to leave an eye, p, which forms the front termination ofthe space in which the sickle works. This eye is tapered, as shown inFig. 6, so as to afl'ord as little ob structionas :Possible to itspassage through the grass or grain. This eye p will allow the freeescape of anything which may get into the space between the sickle andits guard.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Paitent,is-=

1, The pin-wheel J J, constructed of two light disks, with pins Mintheir periphery,

and with an endless bracing or staying*wire, j, passed diagonally'fromone diskto theother around the pins z, in combination with thedevioe*h, whichdrives the sickleof a harvestersuch as described, -allsubstantially as described.

2. Theguard-fingersg, Constructed,asshown in I igs. 5and6, Witha-narrowstraight slot,

terminating in -anelliptical 'or'circular'eye, for the purpose setforth.

JO. BAMSEY.

Witnesses:

L. H. =Gmnon, JNO. W. BANKIN.

